TMJ pain can range from minor annoyance to severely affecting your quality of life. If your jaw decides to lock, simply eating a hamburger for lunch can turn from painful to impossible. Talking can become a chore, and even tension headaches and migraines can become more frequent. That’s why, for TMJ sufferers, seeking treatment for lingering symptoms can become a priority.
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), also referred to as TMJ, is used to categorize an array of dysfunctions that can occur in the temporomandibular joint. Because of the complicated joint structure, symptoms can vary significantly from patient to patient. Treatments have to be individualized in response, and what works for one person may not work for others.
Whether you’re a long-time sufferer of TMJ or have recently developed symptoms, the time to seek treatment is now, and a neuromuscular dentist is the one most qualified for the job.
What Can a Neuromuscular Dentist do?
Like a general dentist, a neuromuscular dentist looks at your mouth, teeth, and jaw as an interconnected machine. The difference is that a neuromuscular dentist focuses on the muscular structure of the mouth. This makes them better able to identify problems that arise in the jaw and surrounding muscles.
Why Do I Need a Neuromuscular Dentist?
TMD is notoriously difficult to diagnose because symptoms can vary so significantly. While some TMJ sufferers experience tingling in their fingers, or ringing in their ears, others do not. Pain of this type can go undiagnosed for a long time, and treatment can mask symptoms without addressing the root cause. Neuromuscular dentists can often work with patients to develop a treatment plan customized to their specific condition.
TMJ Mouth Rehabilitation
Neuromuscular dentists can offer a plan for treatment. Initially, we might use a custom designed mouth guard, to help reposition the jaw, realign your bite, allow the jaw to relax, and protect teeth from night time grinding. For more advanced cases, we might recommend full mouth rehabilitation. If your teeth have been worn or damaged, this can include cosmetic dentistry, as well.
By also including treatment options like a TENs unit, state-of-the-art technology that emits a mild electrical pulse to the jaw muscles to help them relax, you can rest assured you’re getting the best care possible.
If you are in the Westchester County, Peekskill, or Yorktown, New York area and believe you may be suffering from symptoms caused by TMJ, please contact experienced neuromuscular dentist Dr. George Sepiashvili for an initial TMJ consultation.